Two brothers used a former taxi as their cover as they went out to burgle garages, a court heard.
Philip Young, 23, and David Fergus-Young, 28, tried to disguise their activities with a taxi which would arouse less suspicion in the early hours.
They embarked on a two-day crime spree after a text message: “Shall we go out grafting then?”
The siblings - who had 113 previous offences between them - enjoyed mixed fortunes at Teesside Crown Court today.
One was jailed while the other was freed as a judge saw “green shoots of recovery” in his future.
Prosecutor David Crook said the two were seen behaving suspiciously on Harrier Close, Thornaby at 1am on December 9 last year.
They got out of a car with taxi signage and were disturbed breaking into a garage. They left empty-handed.
Mr Crook said of the taxi: “It seems to have been used with the benefit of a disguise, perhaps an air of legitimacy.
“In the early hours of the morning an unmarked car would have aroused more suspicion.”
The former cab - which had been sold to an unknown man giving false details - was seen again at 2.30am the following night.
The brothers were seen, one in a balaclava, on Spruce Road, Mile House, Stockton where they snapped padlocks off two garages.
Police lay in wait for them and caught a nervous Young, wearing black rubber gloves and an electronic tag, emerging from a garden at 4.20am.
His older brother Fergus-Young was spotted hiding on a garage roof under an overgrown conifer.
He had a key to the car containing a screwdriver and tent stolen from one of the garages.
His phone revealed texts of the men planning their criminal escapades.
They talked of getting the car and debated whether or not to take off Young’s tag.
One of the burglary victims said it left him suspicious, wary and uncomfortable.
The brothers admitted one burglary and two attempted burglaries.
They were both on licence at the time and their criminal records included burglaries and robberies.
Fergus-Young, of Deepdale Avenue, Beechwood, Middlesbrough, had 72 previous offences on his record.
Young, of Dundas Street, Primrose Hill, Stockton, had 41 offences to his name including wounding with intent and he was in breach of a suspended sentence for arson.
Defence barristers said the two - jailed together for burglary in 2013 - showed remorse.
Amy Dixon, defending Young, said he lost income from benefits, relied on friends for money and went out to steal to support himself.
She said he was immature and the crimes were unsophisticated.
Stephen Andrews, for Fergus-Young, said he acted out of a “misguided sense of loyalty” to his brother, who was bothering him for money.
Fergus-Young had tackled mental health issues after he was diagnosed with personality disorder at Roseberry Park hospital, in Middlesbrough, last year.
He turned his life around, kept out of trouble and settled with a job, a home and a supportive girlfriend.
“There are some indicators of green shoots of recovery here for this young man,” added Mr Andrews.
The judge, Recorder Robert Spragg, told the pair in the dock: “This was quite clearly a pre-planned operation. The taxi was no doubt to be used as cover.”
He jailed Young for 11 months and gave Fergus-Young an eight-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months with a year’s supervision.
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